Ariadne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
demonicbeauty) wrote2015-09-29 08:05 pm
demonicbeauty) wrote2015-09-29 08:05 pm
Entry tags:
OC World History
Map available here.
Ariadne hails from a fantasy realm, consisting of fourteen kingdoms, along an open and seemingly endless sea. She was born in a smaller kingdom, called Deleo, which produced the majority of the lumber for the rest of the realm (more on that below). Originally, each of the fourteen kingdoms acted as an independent monarchy, existing in a relatively stable peace. Inhabitants included three different classifications of lifeforms; humanoids, demonoids, and incorporeal creatures. Among the humanoid races were the industrious Humans (in D&D terms, rangers and rogues), the mystical Elves (clerics, monks, warlocks, and wizards), and the honorable Darucs (druids, fighters, and paladins). Each race claimed domain over certain arts and sciences: the Humans masters of mechanics and engineering; the Elves the rulers of magic; and the Darucs the great warriors and laborers. The humanoid races were not monoliths, of course. Within each, there were exceptions to the rule. But stereotypes existed for a reason.
Little could be said about the incorporeal races because little was known about them. They were magical in nature, their secrets known only to the highest ranking Elvish scholars. Incorporeal creatures included gods (for more on the realm's religions, see this page), angels, ghosts, and spirits.
The term "demonoid" was used as an umbrella for any sentient race that had more than the basic two arms, two legs, and single head of the humanoids. It would be misleading to believe that they had much in common with each other, however. In fact, demonoids could be drastically different from each other. Examples included trolls, centaurs, and, most critically (as far as Ariadne is concerned), Alastrians.
Often referred to as "Alastrian demons," the Alastrian race evolved from parts unknown. They were forest-dwelling creatures, built to survive high in the trees, with green skin the color of leaves and pastel hair, the color of flowers. They developed abilities linked to hearing in order to survive, including heightened senses, enhanced linguistic processing, the ability to emit a deafening scream, and strong cognitive skills related to rhythm. They also grew long, black retractable claws, to use in climbing and black, feathered wings to use in flight.
Unlike with most other races in the realm, it was the male who bore and gave birth to children among Alastrians. Alastrian litters usually consisted of twenty to twenty five hatchlings. Because of their enormous size, two or three families would often join together to travel in a roving pack. Each pack would only have two or four mating adults. All the other adults would serve as hunters, gatherers, and protectors of the young. Males would sometimes clash over dominance, but ultimately, females could choose any mate they so desired.
Alastrian hair became a luxury good, akin to elephant ivory. Even after it was determined that Alastrians were sentient beings, hunting of them persisted, many monarchies turning a blind eye to the atrocity. Over the course of millennia, perhaps from intermingling with Elves, some Alastrians began to develop the ability to camouflage their appearance, secreting certain pheromones which allowed others to see them having Elvish skintone and hair color. By the time of Ariadne's birth, about one in three Alastrians (including Ariadne herself) were born with this ability.
For some sorcerers, Alastrians served as familiars. Most of the time, this was involuntary, the Alastrian bound to the mage by a spell or ritual. But sometimes, it would be a voluntary arrangement, in exchange for protection of a pack.
About a year before Ariadne was born, trouble began to brew in Calatia, one of the most central and most stable of the kingdoms of the realm. The Elvish king suffered some kind of horrific psychological trauma. Some say he murdered his own sister in a drunken rage. Others believe he copulated with his mother. In any case, his split with reality led him to grow ambitious. He reasoned that the Elves were far superior to the other races of the realm and ought to be in control. To that end, he invaded his southern neighbor, a kingdom ruled by a Human king, and used magic to destroy the land. Most of the royal family was executed. The power-mad took on the name of the Red Dragon. Drunk and bitter, when the other kingdoms condemned him, he vowed to take over the entire realm.
Few saw him as a truly dangerous threat. Surely one man couldn't possibly rule all fourteen kingdoms. But the queen of Valeria, an Elvish woman named Amanda, took his threat very seriously. She realized that the remaining kingdoms would have to join forces in order to stand against him in the long run. Her initial diplomatic endeavors with the other monarchs were met with resistance. But the leader of a roving Alastrian pack, named Lysia, heeded Amanda's warnings and offered to lend her services to a resistance.
Over the next twenty years, Amanda and Lysia did their best to slow the progress of the Red Dragon. They had limited success and one by one, kingdoms fell under his rule. Soon, Valeria was the only free kingdom remaining. They both knew that it wouldn't be long before it, too, fell.
Ariadne hails from a fantasy realm, consisting of fourteen kingdoms, along an open and seemingly endless sea. She was born in a smaller kingdom, called Deleo, which produced the majority of the lumber for the rest of the realm (more on that below). Originally, each of the fourteen kingdoms acted as an independent monarchy, existing in a relatively stable peace. Inhabitants included three different classifications of lifeforms; humanoids, demonoids, and incorporeal creatures. Among the humanoid races were the industrious Humans (in D&D terms, rangers and rogues), the mystical Elves (clerics, monks, warlocks, and wizards), and the honorable Darucs (druids, fighters, and paladins). Each race claimed domain over certain arts and sciences: the Humans masters of mechanics and engineering; the Elves the rulers of magic; and the Darucs the great warriors and laborers. The humanoid races were not monoliths, of course. Within each, there were exceptions to the rule. But stereotypes existed for a reason.
Little could be said about the incorporeal races because little was known about them. They were magical in nature, their secrets known only to the highest ranking Elvish scholars. Incorporeal creatures included gods (for more on the realm's religions, see this page), angels, ghosts, and spirits.
The term "demonoid" was used as an umbrella for any sentient race that had more than the basic two arms, two legs, and single head of the humanoids. It would be misleading to believe that they had much in common with each other, however. In fact, demonoids could be drastically different from each other. Examples included trolls, centaurs, and, most critically (as far as Ariadne is concerned), Alastrians.
Often referred to as "Alastrian demons," the Alastrian race evolved from parts unknown. They were forest-dwelling creatures, built to survive high in the trees, with green skin the color of leaves and pastel hair, the color of flowers. They developed abilities linked to hearing in order to survive, including heightened senses, enhanced linguistic processing, the ability to emit a deafening scream, and strong cognitive skills related to rhythm. They also grew long, black retractable claws, to use in climbing and black, feathered wings to use in flight.
Unlike with most other races in the realm, it was the male who bore and gave birth to children among Alastrians. Alastrian litters usually consisted of twenty to twenty five hatchlings. Because of their enormous size, two or three families would often join together to travel in a roving pack. Each pack would only have two or four mating adults. All the other adults would serve as hunters, gatherers, and protectors of the young. Males would sometimes clash over dominance, but ultimately, females could choose any mate they so desired.
Alastrian hair became a luxury good, akin to elephant ivory. Even after it was determined that Alastrians were sentient beings, hunting of them persisted, many monarchies turning a blind eye to the atrocity. Over the course of millennia, perhaps from intermingling with Elves, some Alastrians began to develop the ability to camouflage their appearance, secreting certain pheromones which allowed others to see them having Elvish skintone and hair color. By the time of Ariadne's birth, about one in three Alastrians (including Ariadne herself) were born with this ability.
For some sorcerers, Alastrians served as familiars. Most of the time, this was involuntary, the Alastrian bound to the mage by a spell or ritual. But sometimes, it would be a voluntary arrangement, in exchange for protection of a pack.
About a year before Ariadne was born, trouble began to brew in Calatia, one of the most central and most stable of the kingdoms of the realm. The Elvish king suffered some kind of horrific psychological trauma. Some say he murdered his own sister in a drunken rage. Others believe he copulated with his mother. In any case, his split with reality led him to grow ambitious. He reasoned that the Elves were far superior to the other races of the realm and ought to be in control. To that end, he invaded his southern neighbor, a kingdom ruled by a Human king, and used magic to destroy the land. Most of the royal family was executed. The power-mad took on the name of the Red Dragon. Drunk and bitter, when the other kingdoms condemned him, he vowed to take over the entire realm.
Few saw him as a truly dangerous threat. Surely one man couldn't possibly rule all fourteen kingdoms. But the queen of Valeria, an Elvish woman named Amanda, took his threat very seriously. She realized that the remaining kingdoms would have to join forces in order to stand against him in the long run. Her initial diplomatic endeavors with the other monarchs were met with resistance. But the leader of a roving Alastrian pack, named Lysia, heeded Amanda's warnings and offered to lend her services to a resistance.
Over the next twenty years, Amanda and Lysia did their best to slow the progress of the Red Dragon. They had limited success and one by one, kingdoms fell under his rule. Soon, Valeria was the only free kingdom remaining. They both knew that it wouldn't be long before it, too, fell.